180 
VARIETIES 
materials  which  have  given  it  birth.  The  olives  at  the  com- 
mencement of  their  formation  contain  a  green,  and  traces  of  a 
fatty  matter ;  but  proportionally,  as  the  fruit  of  the  olive  de- 
velops itself  and  increases,  the  fatty  matter  develops  itself  and 
increases  also. 
The  chlorophyll  (green-coloring  matter)  which  was  found  in 
abundance  in  the  leaves  and  fruits  of  the  olive  tree,  always  ac- 
companies the  mannite.  The  saccharine  matter  exists  in  small 
quantities  when  the  leaves  begin  to  develop  themselves  ;  it  aug- 
ments with  their  progression ;  diminishes  during  the  flowering 
of  the  plant  and  when  the  leaves  begin  to  lose  their  green  tint. 
It  disappears  entirely  when  the  leaves  are  yellow  and  fall  spon- 
taneously from  the  plant. 
The  leaves  of  the  olive  tree  are  perpetual ;  that  is  to  say,  they 
do  not  become  detached  from  the  plant  until  the  new  green  leaves 
become  formed  and  developed.  When  the  fruits  are  perfectly 
ripe,  and  have  lost  their  green  tint,  they  contain  no  mannite. 
When  the  mannite  is  exhausted  the  oil  is  at  its  maximum.  The 
decrease  of  the  saccharine  and  green  matter  in  the  olives  during 
the  increase  of  the  fatty  matter,  and  'the  disappearance  of  those 
same  substances  when  the  olives  contain  a  maximum  of  oil,  show 
that  there  must  exist  some  relation  between  all  these  matters  ; 
and  that  if  the  chlorophyll  and  mannite  are  assimilated,  it  is 
that  they  give  foundation  to  some  other  substances,  amongst 
which  must  figure  the  olive  oil. — Am.  Drug.  Giro.,  Feb.,  1866, 
from  London  Chemist  and  Druggist. 
i)arictic0* 
The  works  of  Lavoisier. — Chemists  who  have  read  the  ie  Chemical  philo- 
sophy "  of  Prof.  Dumas,  know  the  earnest  words  with  which  that  chemist, 
in  1836,  entered  upon  the  task  of  getting  out  a  complete  edition  of  the 
works  of  Lavoisier.  Our  readers  are  aware  from  our  former  communica- 
tions (this  Jour.,  xxxii.  98,  xxxv.  262)  that  this  engagement  is  on  the  point 
of  being  fulfilled,  that  the  edition  is  in  the  press,  and  that  three  volumes 
have  already  been  published  at  the  expense  of  the  State. 
Many  events  have  prevented  the  prompt  publication  of  this  important 
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